Tub faucet leak when shower is on?

Member

I fall squarely into the category of "severely home improvement inept". So, if you are kind enough to respond to this thread, please assume the following:

a. If it's a tool other than a hammer, I probably need detailed instructions about what the tool is.

b. If it's something I have to buy that could POSSIBLY have more than one size, type, or model, please help me figure out exactly which one to buy, because I am genetically predisposed to selecting the wrong one!

So, in other words, while I appreciate your help in advance, please don't say "Oh, no problem, just whammus the frammus with a 3/8" circular frindebund!"

OK, caveat over, here's my deal:

I just moved into an 18-year old townhouse, with various small projects I need to tackle. The first thing I'm curious about is my shower. It's a standard bathtub, with the faucet with the little plug you pull up to turn the shower on. The knob is a push-off/pull-on single knob.

I have two problems:

1. When I pull up the plug with the water running, about half of the water comes out of the faucet, instead of the shower head, with the result that the shower has very poor water pressure. (Well, I'm not 100% certain the two are related, but I suspect this to be the case.)

2. The entire shower unit seems to be "loose." That is, if I grab the shower knob and pull gently, both the knob and the faucet will move simultaneously. I can push/pull them about 1/2" in either direction.

So, any suggestions as to how I can fix these issues, or is this plumber material?

Well-Known Member

sbattisti, we have all been where you are at one time or another. That's why DIY sites are so popular.
Your problem is in the tub spout. It is called a diverter and when you lift the knob, it blocks off water through the spout and directs it to the shower head. The fastest and easiest way to fix it is by replacing the spout. There are two types. Look under the spout where it meets the wall. If there is a slot in the bottom of the spout, there is an allen screw that holds the spout on. To remove the spout, unscrew the screw and "twist and pull" on the spout. There are "O" rings that make a seal and these make it a bit stiff to remove. If there is no slot, the spout is threaded onto a pipe. Use channel-locks or a pipewrench and turn counter-clockwise to remove. Take the old spout with you to a Home Improvement store for a replacement. Reverse the procedure to reinstall. The movement you spoke of is probably due to the pipe not being secured to studs when installed. Tough to repair without cutting into the wall.

Member

I noticed that the place where the spout meets the shower wall is currently caulked. Is this something I should repeat once I install the new spout? If so, are there special types of caulk used for such things? I literally have never used caulk in my life, so advice here would be appreciate!

Also, is this the sort of operation that would require "flux"? If so, what's the story there?

Well-Known Member

You will want to cut/remove the caulk since it will allow easier removal of the spout. Pick up a tube (squeeze tube will work) of tub and tile caulk. Squeeze a bead of the caulk around the new spout to prevent water from running into the wall when using the shower. I like using a spoon dipped in water to smooth out the bead of caulk for a nice finished look. A finger will work but spoons are not as messy. No flux or soldering is necessary.

Well-Known Member

You should have nothing but the spout to work on. Remove the caulk, remove the allen screw, twist the spout to break loose any calcium deposits that may be holding it, and then twist and pull steadily outward on the the spout. You don't want to jerk on it since you could break something inside the wall. The "O" ring(s) that seal the spout may give you a bit of a problem but the spout should slide off.

Member

Yay, it worked! Thanks so much for your help. It didn't quite go as smoothly as I'd hoped, but it worked out in the end. (Caulk is harder to apply neatly than you might expect...) Can't beat that for $15 and a half an hour of my time.

Well-Known Member

Member

Sorry to necro-bump this thread guys, but I'm in this same predicament; my bathtub spout leaks when the shower is on. I can fill a few buckets full of water in one shower! It's kind of out of control. My tub spout is the kind that threads onto a pipe and has no diverter control. The diverter control is a knob higher up on the wall. Do I have to take that knob off to get to the diverter?

Certified Lunatic

Your problem is probably quite different from that of the original poster.

While your diverter valve may be leaking there are many other places that the problem could also be including stem packings, the riser, and the shower arm where it connects to the riser. Another possibility is also the sealing of the walls and escutcheons against water from the shower.

In any case you should stop collecting buckets of water and get the leak fixed before your floor rots out and the tub lands in the basement.

Member

Redwood, I went ahead and opened everything up. Didn't have the right wrench so I got one for $6 at Lowes. Once I pulled the diverter out, it was obvious that I had some cracked gaskets. Replaced them for $0.79 and everything is fixed now!